Beautiful Mongrels. 187 



and as the game-laws of Japan are very severe, so much so, 

 indeed, that their observance has been made a special article 

 of the treaty with the United States, I concluded that the 

 firing was only for the purpose of driving away the pheasants 

 to places where they would be more secure from the strangers." 



The three species of pheasants — the P. versicolor, 

 torquatus, and colchicus — readily interbreed, and the mixed 

 progeny, from whatever parentage, are perfectly fertile. The 

 effect of this introduction of foreign blood into Enghsh coverts 

 has been amazing, producing an increase of size and vigour, 

 and beautiful variations in the plumage, dependent on the 

 species whose blood predominates in the cross. 



Nothing can be more interesting than the production of 

 these beautiful mongrels, which increase so rapidlj* that Gould 

 stated his opinion that in twenty years' time it would be 

 difficult to find a true species in this country. This, however, 

 he regarded as of little moment, as fresh birds can always be 

 obtained from their native countries, Asia Minor, China, and 

 Japan. All naturahsts, however, are not of Mr. Gould's 

 opinion. The late Mr. Blyth informed me that P. versicolor 

 and P. torquatus kept themselves distinct in two neighbouring 

 copses at Lord Craven's, not intermixing, although at a 

 comparatively short distance from each other, and that he 

 believed, although these races will cross when in confinement, 

 that in the open country the birds of each would select their 

 proper mates and produce pure bred offspring, an opinion 

 which I regard as exceedingly doubtful. 



The cross between the Japanese and common pheasant is 

 a bird of brilliant plumage, of greater size than the average 

 of English birds, and, as regards the table, very tender and 

 well flavoured. In Norfolk, this very beautiful cross was 

 introduced by Mr. J. H. Gurney, who bred most successfully, 

 both at Baston and Northrepps, from the birds he obtained 

 at the Knowsley sale and the common pheasant (though 

 chiefly with the ring-necked cross), and produced magnificent 

 specimens ; and from the eggs being greatly sought after by 



